BBC honours Nigerian police officer who has ‘never collected bribe’

British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, has honoured a
police officer, Julius Adedeji, for standing against bribe since he joined the
force.

A 2017 survey by Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS,
had identified officers of the Nigeria Police Force as among the most corrupt
public officials in the country, especially in bribery. Adedeji is said to have
never taken a bribe, not because he has never been offered such but because it
is “needless” for him. For that rare feat, the BBC is celebrating him as
Nigeria’s ‘most dedicated police officer’. Adedeji told the BBC in an interview
that he was surprised to be nominated for the award because he did not know he
was being watched. He said: “I thank God that it’s recognized and I feel like
putting my best more and more.

A copy of the letter (from the BBC) was delivered to
my office for my information. When I read through it, I was wondering could it
be true? “I read through the letter and I saw that it said, they wanted an
institution which they can name and shame those that are not doing well and
encourage the people that are doing well within the Nigerian police force, I
felt so great.” Asked if he had ever been offered money in the form of bribe,
he said: “Absolutely. And even today, a person offered to give me some money
and I said ‘no,no,no,no why would you do that, I’m just doing my work’.”

He, however, admitted he had been tempted to take
bribes, saying: “There’s no way one would not once in a while be tempted; but I
just want to do what is right.” Adedeji advised his colleagues whose lifestyles
were built around bribe to desist from the practice. “I know in my little space
where I work, I’ve seen people who are going the wrong way. We’ve talked to
them and told them you don’t have to do this and God will find a way to bless
you when you’re doing what is right,” he said.